Politicians that fuel nationalism and intolerance forget to tell you one important fact: They carry a high price tag in the form of lower economic growth and less jobs. If passed, a draft bill spearheaded by Social Democrat (SDP) MP Suna Kymäläinen would not only hit businesses in eastern Finland that depend on Russian tourists, but reveal our ever-growing xenophobia.

The bill would be like putting up a huge sign for the world to see: Russians stay out!

Other MPs behind the bill are Perussuomalaiset party’s Reijo Tossavainen, Pertti Hemmilä of the National Coalition Party, Markku Rossi and Aila Paloniemi both of the Center Party.

According to a news story in January, the draft bill had the backing of 101 of 200 MPs.

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Why do you think that demanding reciprocity would be xenophobia? Is Russia showing xenophobia against Finns by refusing to sell real estate in Karelia to Finns because Russia feels that it is vital security issue? And don’t you think that what is happening now in Ukraine is a reminder what problems may wait us, if we get too close to Russia and ignore that it is vital security issue to us as well?

And what is wrong in trying to keep the price level to reasonable level to locals? May I remind you that often even within the same country locals don’t like that persons come from other parts of the country and cause the prices to become so high that the locals cannot afford them anymore. One good example of this is San Francisco where the locals are protesting against Google for this same reason.